Have you gotten a COVID vaccine?

[ENJDisneyFan]

Nope. And my county announced they won't be getting any additional vaccines until April. They are still working to get enough vaccine for the first group that opened up in DECEMBER. They opened up the second group on Monday, still over 65 or under 65 with specific health conditions. I'm Type 2 diabetic, which was in the second group, but they added the condition that your A1C had to be higher than 7.5. 6.5 and up is considered Type 2 diabetic, so not sure where they came up with the higher number.

Wow, what state are you in?

 

[PolyTigger]

We got our second shot of Pfizer AM yesterday. No side effects at all, not even a sore arm today!

 

[tvguy]

Wow, what state are you in?

California.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I am finally eligible and get my first shot this Wednesday. Question for those of you who have had the shot . . .

I assume most people are requesting the shot in their non dominant arm so any soreness doesn’t affect your ability to write or do other things. However, I have different dominant hands for different tasks. For example, I write left handed only, use scissors right handed only, but I open jars using either. How sore should I expect to be and do any of you have a recommendation which arm I should get the shot in? I am considering the left arm even though I write left handed.

I don't get my shot until tomorrow, but most people are recommending using your dominant arm. The theory is the more you use it the less sore it will get. DS had his shot Friday in his dominant arm. Based on advice I've read, I told him to move it often. He said he had minimal soreness, but not enough to really bother him.

 

[2letterwords]

As I mentioned, I had my second Pfizer dose on Friday afternoon. Was totally out of comission yesterday: 102 fever, chills, just completely worn out. Fever broke last night and this morning I am 95%, just a little fatigued. I am seeing a lot of anecdotal evidence that younger people (I'm 40) are experiencing more side effects. I am thrilled to be vaccinated!

 

[chad_1138]

We live in Indiana. I am 42 and a high school math teacher, my DW is 41 and a homemaker.

I received my first shot (Moderna) last Monday. Our county health department made the rounds to our 5 county schools to administer. They will return in April for our 2nd shot. My arm hurt really bad the day after, and then it got better.

My wife got a text from Meijer 2 days ago that she could schedule her first shot (Pfizer) for this coming Tuesday. We wondered if they got word from the Governor's office about age. At that point is was open to 45+. That evening on the news we saw that Monday is open to 40+ here, so the pharmacies and clinics must be getting word a few days prior to announcing eligibility.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am finally eligible and get my first shot this Wednesday. Question for those of you who have had the shot . . .

I assume most people are requesting the shot in their non dominant arm so any soreness doesn’t affect your ability to write or do other things. However, I have different dominant hands for different tasks. For example, I write left handed only, use scissors right handed only, but I open jars using either. How sore should I expect to be and do any of you have a recommendation which arm I should get the shot in? I am considering the left arm even though I write left handed.

I typically get my vaccinations in my non-dominant arm. Mostly because that's the opposite side I sleep on at night (can't sleep on the side with the shot for a couple of nights, usually). This one I got in my dominant arm, mostly because it forced me to actually move it around more.

In your case "dominant" would probably refer to the arm you use the most - the whole arm, not just your hand. Like, which one do you use to reach for something?

 

[tvguy]

Wow, what state are you in?

My neighbor is 70, and has Stage 4 cancer. He finally was able to get his first shot 3 weeks ago and the second this past week. Almost THREE month wait since vaccinations started, and he has STAGE 4 cancer.

 

[Christine]

I typically get my vaccinations in my non-dominant arm. Mostly because that's the opposite side I sleep on at night (can't sleep on the side with the shot for a couple of nights, usually). This one I got in my dominant arm, mostly because it forced me to actually move it around more.

In your case "dominant" would probably refer to the arm you use the most - the whole arm, not just your hand. Like, which one do you use to reach for something?

I've never noticed a difference in getting in the dominant v. non-dominant arm. To me, the soreness is an immune reaction, not typical muscle pain. It's always been worse for me if I get it in my dominant arm because every time I have to move it (which is often) I want to cry. The last 2 vaccines I got (tetanus and flu) I got in my non-dominant arm and I think it worked out better for me but who knows.

Not sure what I'll do on Tuesday with the Pfizer vaccine. My left leg is in a cast and I'm non weight bearing. I probably just need to go with the left arm so that all my discomfort is on one side!

 

[martikus]

I am finally eligible and get my first shot this Wednesday. Question for those of you who have had the shot . . .

I assume most people are requesting the shot in their non dominant arm so any soreness doesn’t affect your ability to write or do other things. However, I have different dominant hands for different tasks. For example, I write left handed only, use scissors right handed only, but I open jars using either. How sore should I expect to be and do any of you have a recommendation which arm I should get the shot in? I am considering the left arm even though I write left handed.

I’m like you and chose my right arm. I decided if for some reason the vaccine went awol I didn’t want to lose my left arm and not be able
To write . Mine wasn’t that sore and I had no issue working (I use right for computer mouse).

I hear second shot much worse but plan to get in right again.

 

[JLTraveling]

I am finally eligible and get my first shot this Wednesday. Question for those of you who have had the shot . . .

I assume most people are requesting the shot in their non dominant arm so any soreness doesn’t affect your ability to write or do other things. However, I have different dominant hands for different tasks. For example, I write left handed only, use scissors right handed only, but I open jars using either. How sore should I expect to be and do any of you have a recommendation which arm I should get the shot in? I am considering the left arm even though I write left handed.

I'm exactly the same way, and I chose my right arm mostly because that's what popped out of my mouth when they asked. I'm about 27 hours after my first shot now, and honestly it hasn't been bad at all. I can feel it when I raise my arm over my head, but it hasn't stopped me from doing anything. Maybe a 2 on a 10 point pain scale at its worst yesterday, and a 1 today. Whichever you choose, moving it around a lot helps.

 

[fla4fun]

I typically get my vaccinations in my non-dominant arm. Mostly because that's the opposite side I sleep on at night (can't sleep on the side with the shot for a couple of nights, usually). This one I got in my dominant arm, mostly because it forced me to actually move it around more.

In your case "dominant" would probably refer to the arm you use the most - the whole arm, not just your hand. Like, which one do you use to reach for something?

Hmmm . . . Good points. However, I would say reaching is about 50/50, and I sleep on both sides intermittently through the night, so it sounds like I may have a sleepless night or two. I may go with the left arm for the first shot and maybe the right for the second shot, and share the love between them.

 

[EACarlson]

I am finally eligible and get my first shot this Wednesday. Question for those of you who have had the shot . . .

I assume most people are requesting the shot in their non dominant arm so any soreness doesn’t affect your ability to write or do other things. However, I have different dominant hands for different tasks. For example, I write left handed only, use scissors right handed only, but I open jars using either. How sore should I expect to be and do any of you have a recommendation which arm I should get the shot in? I am considering the left arm even though I write left handed.

I got it in my dominant arm for two reasons: It would make sure I was moving it, and I have a tattoo on my non-dominant shoulder I prefer not to stick other needles in. I should have gotten it in the non-dominant arm, reason below. I did not have any issues using the arm, it was sore the first couple movements and anytime I put pressure on it for about 60 hours.

I'm Type 2 diabetic, which was in the second group, but they added the condition that your A1C had to be higher than 7.5. 6.5 and up is considered Type 2 diabetic, so not sure where they came up with the higher number.

My Dr. tells me that 7.5 is the borderline between considering it controlled or uncontrolled diabetes, I asked when my diagnosis changed when I passed that number. It's also government bureaucrats.

Mostly because that's the opposite side I sleep on at night (can't sleep on the side with the shot for a couple of nights, usually).

THIS. I could not sleep on my dominant (right) shoulder for three nights. Which means I had to sleep on my left or on my back. When I sleep on my back I snore so loud I wake myself up, so I tried to spend as much time on my left shoulder as I could, which meant my poor wife had to sleep on her left shoulder as well, or deal with me snoring at a much softer level directly in her face. I will ask the second one to go in the non-dominant arm for this reason and this reason alone. I have never had an issue with any other vaccines and not being able to sleep on the injection site.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Hmmm . . . Good points. However, I would say reaching is about 50/50, and I sleep on both sides intermittently through the night, so it sounds like I may have a sleepless night or two. I may go with the left arm for the first shot and maybe the right for the second shot, and share the love between them.

Are you having your shot inside a building or at a drive-thru site? If at a drive-thru site, I'd just go with the arm closest to the window.

 

[fla4fun]

Are you having your shot inside a building or at a drive-thru site?

In a building. I felt more comfortable doing that than having to drive immediately after getting the shot. I am afraid of needles and have not had a shot since I turned 18. I am not looking forward to it, but if I want to live any kind of halfway normal life, it must be done.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I got it in my dominant arm for two reasons: It would make sure I was moving it, and I have a tattoo on my non-dominant shoulder I prefer not to stick other needles in. I should have gotten it in the non-dominant arm, reason below. I did not have any issues using the arm, it was sore the first couple movements and anytime I put pressure on it for about 60 hours.
My Dr. tells me that 7.5 is the borderline between considering it controlled or uncontrolled diabetes, I asked when my diagnosis changed when I passed that number. It's also government bureaucrats.

THIS. I could not sleep on my dominant (right) shoulder for three nights. Which means I had to sleep on my left or on my back. When I sleep on my back I snore so loud I wake myself up, so I tried to spend as much time on my left shoulder as I could, which meant my poor wife had to sleep on her left shoulder as well, or deal with me snoring at a much softer level directly in her face. I will ask the second one to go in the non-dominant arm for this reason and this reason alone. I have never had an issue with any other vaccines and not being able to sleep on the injection site.

Good point. We were most likely going to have DH's in his left arm & mine in my right. That way both of us would be getting it in the arm closest to the window making it easier on the person who administers the shot. We may want to give this some more consideration.

ETA: On second thought, I think our original plan will work for us.

 

[design_mom]

I had my first dose yesterday (Pfizer). I got it in my dominant arm. I can feel it if I press on it or raise my arm all the way over my head, but it hasn’t bothered me overall. I slept on that arm just fine.

 

[Verity_]

In a building. I felt more comfortable doing that than having to drive immediately after getting the shot. I am afraid of needles and have not had a shot since I turned 18. I am not looking forward to it, but if I want to live any kind of halfway normal life, it must be done.

It's a quick shot. And after, it's a good feeling to know you are on the track heading back to doing more things.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I am finally eligible and get my first shot this Wednesday. Question for those of you who have had the shot . . .

I assume most people are requesting the shot in their non dominant arm so any soreness doesn’t affect your ability to write or do other things. However, I have different dominant hands for different tasks. For example, I write left handed only, use scissors right handed only, but I open jars using either. How sore should I expect to be and do any of you have a recommendation which arm I should get the shot in? I am considering the left arm even though I write left handed.

I got my in non-dominant left. I did not have any soreness with either shot.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

In a building. I felt more comfortable doing that than having to drive immediately after getting the shot. I am afraid of needles and have not had a shot since I turned 18. I am not looking forward to it, but if I want to live any kind of halfway normal life, it must be done.

I'm with you on the needles. I'm a big baby, when it comes to shots. I only have them, when I have to for medical reasons (pregnancy, surgery, etc.) DH always goes with me to talk to me, so I'm not thinking so much about it. I've never had a flu shot, but I'm willing to suck it up for the Covid vaccine.